A Garden in the Ribeira Sacra

The main challenge of this project was to design a garden that both respected and enhanced the rural and productive environment, while also providing all the necessary spaces for the design of an ornamental garden. The estate not only had to maintain its productive capacity but also had to be expanded with new vineyard plots, integrating grape production into the garden's design. All of this in a context defined by the steep slopes of the Miño River's hillsides, characteristic of the heroic viticulture of the Ribeira Sacra.

The design focused on making agricultural activity compatible with residential use, organizing the space through a system of vertical and horizontal communication pathways. These connections facilitate access for agricultural workers and the transportation of grapes, without interfering with the areas dedicated to family and social use of the house. A design strategy was chosen based on the use of traditional construction techniques that harmonize with the agricultural landscape. This approach allowed for visual and functional coherence between the garden, the restored house, and the cultivation terraces.
 

The garden combines ornamental and functional elements, creating a synergy between aesthetics and production. Three types of spaces were conceived: areas exclusively dedicated to the landscape design, others specifically designed for viticultural production, and mixed zones that integrate both functions. The vine, an undisputed protagonist in the agricultural landscape, maintains its role in production, but in this case, it is also incorporated as a key ornamental element in the design, coexisting with carefully selected ornamental species to ensure a harmonious and coherent integration with the environment.

From the outset, the fundamental premise was absolute respect for the natural topography of the plot. Instead of imposing large earthworks that would alter the original landscape, traditional construction techniques were used, the same ones that have been used for centuries to build the cultivation terraces on the steep slopes of the Ribeira Sacra. These techniques allowed us to generate pedestrian connections and different spaces at various heights, naturally integrating the garden with its surroundings.
 

The garden program was structured into different areas that adapt to the existing topography. One of the most notable areas is the swimming pool, located on one of the largest slopes of the plot, where the natural slope was utilized to create a more functional space. A concert and meeting area was designed, where the existing agricultural terraces were transformed into natural seating for spectators, thus integrating the garden with its social and cultural use.

Various seating areas were created throughout the different cultivation zones. The journey through the garden connects the various spaces while offering a unique experience that combines agricultural use with aesthetic enjoyment. These pedestrian connections are key to this project, as they facilitate the movement of workers responsible for viticultural production and allow visitors and residents to enjoy the garden as if it were an organic journey between nature and agriculture.

THE RIBEIRA SACRA: HISTORY AND LANDSCAPE

The Ribeira Sacra is a region of stunning beauty. Its name, Ribeira Sacra, evokes a spiritual connection, reflecting the historical presence of monasteries and hermitages that have settled on its hillsides since the Middle Ages, seeking peace and contemplation in an environment that invites reflection. These monasteries, many of them Romanesque, are part of the area's cultural heritage and bear witness to a religious and monastic tradition that has left an indelible mark on both the landscape and the lives of its inhabitants.

Beyond its spiritual value, the Ribeira Sacra is also renowned for its heroic viticulture, a form of vine cultivation that defies the steep slopes of the Sil and Miño river canyons. For centuries, local viticulturists have carved terraces into the hillsides to plant vineyards, creating a unique landscape where human effort and nature are intertwined in harmony. This heroic work has produced some of Galicia's most distinctive wines, with the Ribeira Sacra Designation of Origin standing as a symbol of quality and tradition.